Haters gonna hate.
That was the response in the Granite State to a social media post making the rounds this week calling for Massachusetts progressives to boycott New Hampshire over its center-right politics.
A Reddit thread accused Bay Staters who head north to take advantage of tax-free New Hampshire’s many economic benefits and natural beauty of supporting “ICE raids” and “defunding our public schools.”
The New Hampshire State Police recently announced its participation in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement program allowing local police to help enforce federal immigration law. And the state’s successful Education Freedom Account is opposed by many Democrats.
Ironically, the progressive phone call appears to have come from inside the house. The “boycott New Hampshire” post came from a Granite State account.
“How about we call a boycott for MA tourists & watch Ayotte flip her wig when NH goes broker than broke?” the poster suggests. “Your tourism supports NH GOP’s hell bent mission to destroy democracy by calling a peaceful group of disabled people requesting a meeting with their governor about budget cuts to Medicaid ‘insurrectionists.’”
The message, which was also posted on Twitter/X, inspired a passionate response from both sides of the state line.
“It’s not Mass residents who voted in this POS Trump Governor who seems hell bent on alienating every person who lives in Massachusetts,” one poster wrote. “You get who you voted for. I’ll take my business elsewhere (though I will pay the $5 to park in the white mountains national forest and $25 for hike safe, they need as much help as they can get.)”
And several posted “The Florida of New England,” though it was unclear if they meant it as criticism or praise.
Meanwhile, New Hampshire continues to be named one of the best places to live in the U.S., with the number one rankings for public safety, economic opportunity, and taxpayer return on investment. New Hampshire has the 48th lowest tax burden in the U.S., while Massachusetts ranks 13th.
Given the Granite State’s performance, why would Massachusetts Democrats mock it, instead of emulate it?
“Massachusetts State House leaders are in complete denial over New Hampshire’s success story. If they acknowledged New Hampshire’s advantage, it would mean their policies are failing,” said Paul Craney with Mass Fiscal Alliance. “The taxpayers are clearly aware, as many taxpayers and small businesses are leaving Massachusetts for New Hampshire. My advice for the Massachusetts State House is to just do whatever New Hampshire is doing. Any delay will continue to contribute to the decline in Massachusetts.”
Meanwhile, in the Granite State, Republicans shrugged off the threat that Bay Staters might boycott New Hampshire.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” posted former state Rep. Leah Cushman (R-Weare).
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news… But I’m pretty certain every Granite Stater would be totally fine with Massholes staying in Mass,” added former state Rep. Tim Cahill (R-Raymond).
As for persuading Massachusetts tourists to keep their dollars out of the Granite State, some recent trends might make that too high a hurdle. Earlier this week, in the U.S. News & World Report “natural environment” category — which directly translates to White Mountains and Lakes Region tourism — netted New Hampshire a #4 ranking.
No other state in New England, including Massachusetts, came close.
Some commenters sounded offended by Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s campaign slogan, “Don’t MASS Up New Hampshire,” annoyed that it was effective in her nine-point victory over Democrat Joyce Craig.
Craig had leaned heavily on Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey and made her a campaign mainstay right up until Election Day.
“Sure, the people who live in border towns like Dracut will still pop up to New Hampshire to save a couple of bucks, but you’re kidding yourself if you think Ayotte’s rhetoric and the state’s rightward lurch isn’t going to start costing New Hampshire businesses money,” one Massachusetts commenter warned. “She’s made it abundantly clear that she doesn’t feel she needs our business anymore.”
What should Granite Staters make of Massachusetts Democrats sniping at New Hampshire over low-cost liquor and high-quality vacation destinations?
“They’re just jealous,” Craney said.
